speaking of "special rights"

[ladyinred]

I remember seeing a documentary on how the Indians were treated by "christians". They weren't allowed to even speak their native language Christianity isn't a practice to be forced on people,You can't force anyone to accept the Christian religion.I suspect many LGBT people have been turned off by religion because the rantings of the religious right and they may erroneously conclude that all Christians are like that.And at the same time seeing the hyocrisy in the love the sinner and hate the sin stance they have.If someone threatened me with hellfire and brimstone and told me I was going to hell if I didn't change my ways..I'd probably tell them to take a flying leap.That is no way to approach someone with Christianity in the first place.You don't change the lives of others by villifying them or by being self righteous and condemning.They tend to view themselves as the righteous and saved while other people who don't have their views as "going to hell."I don't think their actions and words are in alignment with the truth,personally I don't see other people of other faiths as damned or going to hell. Everyone is unique in their own path.

[Daniel]

Lady- Re the grannies who got arrested (and does anyone know what happened to their case?)

I can understand- being a former Pentecostal- why they have their point of view. Or course they feel persecuted. If you think you have all the answers and a mandate from God to share them to the heathen homosexuals, and are prevented from doing so....well...the problem doesn't lie with you, but with with those who stand in the way of God's will. That's the thinking, or something like it. And since God hates the sin....well....the Lord won't mind if I stand in for him, right? Someone has to do his work! And earthy laws don't hold a candle to God's laws.

Dominionist Granny to the rescue!

Re Special Rights

My take is that those who go on and on about Special Rights do so for one crucial reason: they consider themselves special in God's eyes. After all, one is considered a changed person after one has converted or gone to the altar. This sets one apart. Makes one special. It goes with the territory. New flash: You can go into any spiritual community, whether Christian, Buddhist or Muslim etc, and find the same thing. Lots of people looking for a place where they can matter- have significance- stand out. Be special. Gotta be careful though. It's a fine line. One can't get too special. Say you are the music director and you are getting a lot more attention than the pastor. Well....your ass is grass eventually if the pastor has an ego problem. And many do. We all have our stories.

What is it with people?

I think this kind of thing is more indicative of arrested development. The problem is that those who hear the 'call' - or whatever you want to define it as- don't go far enough.

I guess that's why I have the tag line that I do. My belief (and I don't often talk about belief) is that Love demands everything from us- none the least of which is ability to give what we want to have- what we think we deserve. That's a kicker for this 'me-first' generation.

Giving really is receiving, right? That's what I think at this moment anyway (at least when the heart is open....but ah....how to get it open and keep it open....that's the trick, no? Gotta break through that hard shell of judgment..)